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How Time at the Beach Could Improve Your Odds of Conceiving

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Summary: Women with low levels of vitamin D in their bodies are less likely to become pregnant through in vitro fertilization than those with normal levels, indicating that the so-called "sunshine vitamin" may play a role in fertility. Researchers don't yet know exactly how the vitamin's impact plays out in the body, but the new results suggest that vitamin D deficiency could be a factor in some women's infertility. The study is a reminder of the importance of aiming for healthy vitamin levels when trying to get pregnant — through a balanced diet, multivitamin and a little time in the sun!

By Sarah C.P. Williams | August 18, 2014

A day at the beach might be just what the doctor ordered — if you're trying to get pregnant, that is. A new study by researchers in Italy found a relationship between levels of vitamin D — which is produced by the body in response to sunlight — and pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. The higher the levels of vitamin D in the women's bodies, the more likely they were to end up pregnant.

"We already knew that vitamin D was important for fertility in animal models," says fertility doctor Edgardo Somigliana, a senior author of the new study. "What's really novel here is that we found a relationship in women undergoing IVF."

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Somigliana and his colleagues measured vitamin D levels in blood samples from 480 women undergoing in vitro fertilization, all about to have a fertilized embryo transferred to their uterus. Then they followed all of the women to see who became pregnant.

Among women with vitamin D levels below 20ng/mL, about 20 percent had a spike in pregnancy hormones after the embryo transfer — indicating a chemical pregnancy — and 13 percent had an embryo successfully implant into their uterus. But women with vitamin D levels above that threshold had a 31 percent chance of a chemical pregnancy and a 21 percent rate of an implanted embryo. And the rates were even higher — almost double the first group — if vitamin D levels were boosted even more, to above 30ng/mL.

"I think that most of the available evidence suggests that vitamin D plays a role in implantation, but our study also suggests that it may be involved in oocyte quality, since we found some difference both in the quality of embryos and the embryos' implantation rate," Somiglinana says.

What this means to you. The research suggests that having at least 30 ng/mL of vitamin D in your blood helps ensure that you're in tip-top nutritional shape for optimal fertility. This likely holds true whether you're trying to conceive the old-fashioned way, or doing it with the help of fertility doctors (although studies on vitamin D haven't yet looked at women who aren't undergoing some kind of fertility treatment). Of course, you won't know what your levels are unless your health care practitioner orders the blood test, which is now becoming more common in fertility clinics — and even primary care offices — around the country.

"It's certain on people's radar," says fertility specialist Kristin Bendikson of the University of Southern California. "At our clinic, we are routinely testing vitamin D levels and trying to get all of our patients over 30 ng/mL."

But even if you don't know your current vitamin D levels, you can take a few steps to avoid being vitamin D deficient. Unlike most vitamins, vitamin D isn't found in fruits and vegetables — fatty fish, beef liver, eggs, and cheese are among the only dietary sources. But just 10 minutes a day in direct sunlight can allow your body to manufacture just enough of the vitamin. If you're dark skinned, live in a cold climate, always wear sunscreen, or just don't get outside very often, that's when you should consider taking a vitamin that includes D.

Most prenatal vitamins contain around 400 IU of vitamin D — but previous studies have found benefits to pregnant women taking up to 4000 IU a day. So talk to your doctor about whether you should take an extra vitamin D pill — especially if you don't get much sun.

"The average amount in a prenatal is really not enough," says Bendikson. "Even in LA, two-thirds of our women are vitamin D deficient." An extra supplement, Bendikson says, can some in the form of a once-daily pill, or a higher-dose vitamin that's taken less often. You should always check with your healthcare practitioner before changing your vitamin routine though — after all, too high levels of vitamin D during pregnancy have also been linked to allergies in babies.

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